English Vinglish- Sridevi passes and wins gold medal too!

Published at http://planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=f100612030341

Cast: Sridevi, Adil Hussain, Mehdi Nebbou, Priya Anand

Director: Gauri Shinde

Producer : R. Balki

Music: Amit Trivedi

Am still in the post-mesmerized phase of English-Vinglish and flawless Sridevi. You can watch the movie again just not for Sridevi who came back to silver screen after a hiatus of 15years but for all those subtle happy-vappy and sad-vad moments every one experiences in dialy life. The very first five min of the movie make you feel like you are at a typical home in India with an uncomplaining, patient wife, a husband who earns well enough and two cute kids and a loving mother in-law Shulbha  Deshpande.

The opening scene where she wakes up, makes coffee for herself but can't take a sip of it due to the continuous demands by husband and other house hold works and finally coffee cools down a bit which reminded me the daily scene at my home where my mama keeps running around the house handling thousands of chores with her tea cooling down on the table! As and when Sridevi appears on the screen it was worth a whistle and it felt extremely delightful to watch her  act  effortlessly once again!Shashi, a Maharashtrian housewife quietly puts up with the playful and insensitive jokes her husband and kids cut  pointing her inability to speak proper English. It's such a terrific performance by Sridevi that every mother will at one point or the other find herself in the place of Shashi . Its not only about English. Its also about how we take mothers for granted . We rant, shout , make rude remarks , even feel embarrassed at our own parents like Shashis daughter sulks at her inefficiency . In return what mother gives is selfless love! Shashi is not only a doting mother and loving wife but also a small scale entrepreneur who delivers homemade laddoos. It’s  the only skill she is proud of but as  her husband is not very proud of this fact makes her tad sad. Eventually she comes to a conclusion that only English speaking people are stylish and important which more or less is true!

The moment she has to fly to US she is all panicky and gets up in middle of the night asking her husband not to send her alone. My heart goes for Shashi in the song Jiya ra dhak dhuk. She fits in the role of a shy , emotional house wife. The cameo by Amitab bachan fits in the plot and the fun tit bits will be remembered by the audience.

The main story begins in US showing the dazzling Newyork and the skyscrapers where Shashi decides to learn English and meets all her affectionate  friends a collection of immigrants—a Pakistani cab driver Salman Khan, a Tamilian soft ware engineer, a Spanish-speaking nanny, a young Chinese girl who works in parlour, a largely silent African man who like the instructor David is homosexual and there is a subtle hint in the movie to be sensitive towards them. Last but not the least is the Frenchman (Mehdi Nebbou) who is a cook and a fervent Shashi-admirer with whom she opens up comfortably in Hindi and he tries to console her in French. These are the moments you feel there is no need of a language between two friends to feel good. At times even silence is enough.

The amazing support cast of English class makes you laugh all the way and the nuances of English language in various regions are funnily portrayed .Priya anand fits in the role of an empathetic girl  with lot of freewill who likes her Shashi maussi a lot and encourages her to learn English. The tensed moment for Shashi where the French man tries getting close to her , Gustaakh dil song which follows and her revelation that she doesn’t need love but needs some respect are all shown so damn naturally. Sridevi’s expressions undoubtedly add flavour to the movie. The scene where she is all smiles when the groom Kevin is mesmerised by tasting her mouth watering  fresh laddoo and her husband Adil Hussain (A kay kay menon look alike)immediately cracks a joke that “She is born to make laddoos”,that instant the way her smile fades and her face becomes am used to this kind of transformation is awesomely shown! Navrai majhi brings you in to the Marathi wedding mood!

The final speech given by Shashi about how important it is to have a family and feel important in this vast world as the only people who never laugh at your weaknesses are your family and you should help yourself  so that both husband and wife must feel equal is all heart touching. She thanks the Frenchman saying he made her feel good about herself. Sridevi is back with a loud bang.

My favourite dialogue from the movie is, “Old relations when worn out new things attract you. When love is restored in the old relations it seems all great and new.” Hats off to Gauri shinde for this well crafted movie and kudos to Amit Trivedi for music which blends well with the movie. Three cheers to Navika Kotia Who played Shashi’s daughter who was also natural and son  Shivansh Kotia is so cute like a teddy bear(who comes in flipkart ads) that you want to take him home. Go to the movie with your family and if possible take your moms to this movie.

All said and done its a full-on Sridevi movie and she passed with flying colors. Like always its No one  Vs Sridevi. Sridevi, with the girly kiddish charm which she only owns, though aged is  beautifully balanced by a new quiet dignity and grace. Welcome back Sridevi and Congrats at this best performance and huge success!

My Rating: 4.5/5
Lastly amazing trailer for those who havent watched yet :) and the promo of song which stole my heart (Dhak Dhuk)

I always want to be like Sri"Devi"- A tribute

I might have just been out of my kinder garten when the flim Jagadeka veerudu atiloka sundari (telugu) got released. After some days I watched Mr.India . Years passed and I made it a point to watch anything and everything in which she appeared! I was enthralled , speechless and amazed looking at the cute and beautiful sridevi . Off screen when she spoke she was all shy and submissive! I was surprised to see the huge transformation she showed on screen. She is like the potter's mould which can be made in any shape you like, a director's actress as they say! 

Infact I did the ribbon cutting of going to theater and watching movies some where in 1988 with the Nagarjuna and Sri starrer Akhari poratam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aakhari_Poratam). I dont remember going and watching it . This is what my mom told me! May be Sri got imprinted in my mind since then. I never liked any other actress as much as I liked her.I always thought of buying the plain blue saree she wears in Mister India and my first saree infact was plain blue :)

I always wanted to own the accessories she wears in Jagadeka veerudu Atiloka sundari, in which Sri acts along with Chirenjeevi as Indra's daughter who comes from heaven to earth to collect her ring with out which she cant go inside the gates of heaven. Chirenjeevi collects it not knowing its powers! At least the audience from south know the craze this movie gained. When in school we got a chance to watch it again, when I was in 2nd or 3rd standard. It was a charity show. I was extremely delighted. All kids were eating , shouting and moving in and out but I was transfixed to my seat in the second row from bottom watching Sri ! I always dreamed to be like her and for the reader's information abbani teeyani debba by Ilaya raja in the same movie is the original tune adopted by "Dhak Dhak Karne laga"!

Her eyes , her kid like voice , her sex appeal  make a tempting combo and are matchless to me . She acted like a daughter to NTR (the veteran actor in telugu) and after few years she acted opposite to him. She acted with ANR and also his offspring  Nagarjuna. People always exclaim that she is capable of acting with Nagarjuna's son too and now that he is in to movies am sure it is not impossible :)

Her "Fun quotient" is higher than many leading ladies. It comes naturally. The silly scenes in many movies are humorous only coz Sri acted in them. She indeed has that funny bone! Who can forget HAWA HAWAAI !? where she eats fruits from her hat. Just a reminder of that scene feels like giving a peck to her :)I always wanted to be a lady like her or at least a man who can romance her. Pity! I am none ;) A poem I wrote for this gorgeous woman- Written in the perspective of a man who watches Sri.

"I thought it is a black pearl shining on a golden necklace,

then I realized it is a mole shining on your golden face.

I thought the sculpture of Khajuraho became alive,

then I saw you dancing to many tunes full of life!

My heart gave a skip and I couldn't stop staring at you.

You ignored me as if I am a false alarm when every bit of it is true!

I lose my senses when you smile and your eyes beam.

Holding your hands and being with you is my dearest dream!!”

Time passed and I grew up a bit of course not prettiest like her but always imitating her , dreaming about her. Let me reveal a secret here which I have been hiding from  15years--When my aunts and uncles used to pass compliments, that a cousin sister of mine just looked like her, I used to burn with jealousy! I always thought - WHY NOT ME ? 

"SADMA" is her master piece ! More than her, Kamal hasan made me cry in sadma but their  legendary performances are not to be compared! I watched it very late when I was somewhere in 5th or 6th standard and I remember crying when Sri leaves Kamal in the railway station. I felt Ranbir Kapoor also watched this movie which assisted him in Barfi ! After watching Sadma (Vasantha kokila in telugu) I felt she is the synonym of cuteness! God made her with precision, of-course there are people who point at the nose - plastic surgery .To enhance her beauty as she is an actress, she would have done that but nevertheless she was always bful and full of grace!

Sadma last scene

None can forget films like "Chandni"  (the dance in the white attire), "Chalbaaz(double role),""Laadla" and so on where she plays a confident and powerful lady! She is the one who is always remembered as the only lady who gave competition to heroes in 80s! When any one says "Khuda gawaah" I only remember sridevi . It always comes as a second thought that Amitab Bachan also acted in it.He gets unnoticed in the aura of Benazir's (Sridevi's name in the movie) beauty. 

Not sure in how many languages she got recognition and won best actress awards but I am sure 5 out of 10 girls in India would have aspired to look like her or imitate her in one or the other aspects of their lives!                
                          

Time flew and we came to mid nineties . She did movies like " Kshana Kshanam" in Telugu made by Ram gopal Varma. Thanks to RGV only for this as he showed her much more beautiful and simplicity and cuteness personified in the movie. She wears same long skirt in the whole movie other than in the dream sequence songs ! This is a movie shot completely outdoor on the roads and the first one of its kind. Not sure after that how many movies were made based on the same concept (Urmila did a similar one. Anthra mali also tried to imitate).

She came out with a role in Judaai where she doesnt mind selling her husband to become rich(Originally a telugu movie done by Aamani). It was her major release in 1997 may be before or after Army and I came to know that she will not be acting any more in the movies. I too cursed her husband like RGV did but then realised it is her personal decision and her choice but as a die hard fan I felt a lacuna inside! I was no longer interested in many tolly - bolly wood heroines who always tried imitating her. Many say Sri is their source of inspiration but fail in doing the similar acting in their movies! Sri who is acting from the age of 4 leaving the movies suddenly dimmed the INDIAN CINEMA. It is definitely a blow to fans  who wanted to see more of her. After such a blow and after a hiatus of nearly 15years SRI IS COMING BACK!  From the day I heard this news, no other breaking news soothes my ears as much as this!

While waiting for the release of English Vinglish, I wanted to pay a small(which as it turns out is huge;)) tribute to my style icon , my  beauty queen and role model since I was 4. Where can I end this article? There's lot more to tell about her . I never get tired of praising her .

Sridevi as child artist

Long before the release it became the most awaited movie of 2012 and Sri would be passing on that prettiest smile knowing that her fans are dying to see her on the screen. The excitement I feel when ever she comes on the small/big screen hasn't lessened a bit even after all these years! Some of them are after her looks saying she lost the charm / got surgeries done / got old and what not. People really tend to believe she is "atilokasundari"( plays as lord Indra's daughter) who is immortal and will never age but she is a human gracing her age and she remains my style icon forever and I will always stay enchanted in forth coming years too when her head would be filled with grey hair and her skin might be pale and wrinkled! Welcoming her with all love ♥

I wish success to English Vinglish and all future ventures!

Loads of love and wishes to my favorite actress . Wishing to see her in multiple languages -hindi , tamil , telugu , kannada and so on like before  and dreaming to be like her as always !

Lots of love ♥♥♥

Afshan:)

Century Ply - "Sab Sahe Mast rahe" - Review

Century Ply is the largest seller of multi-use plywood and decorative veneers  in India. Recently after 4 years it has come up with its angry Gorilla TVC which was released on aug 28^th which happens to be world anger day where you can let out all your anger and feel relaxed. The idea of releasing the ad on that day is interesting as the concept is apt for the day! It even fits the tag line “Sab Sahe Mast rahe” which indicates the strength and durability irrespective of the load / out burst on  it . The ad was designed by Bates group of Kolkata.

The ad opens with a huge gorilla which pounces on him after scaring the kid eating chips. The gorilla throws the car in rage then tries breaking the front wooden door but fails. It finally enters the house via roof and scares a middle aged man (35-40)who is seated on table. The table remains intact while many other surrounding things are smashed and destroyed. The man runs and hides in a cupboard. The gorilla chases him and tries to break the cupboard which again doesn't flinch. In a mirror reflection they show the man’s wife who is extremely angry at him as he forgot their wedding anniversary. She gives a warning “better not to forget next time.”

Again in the end they are seated at the dining table where the man asks “So how many years has it been” and wife turns to an angry king Kong again which by the  end bangs the table with its fist where century ply cards are displayed finally revealing what it all meant. Read below for a detailed insight in to all the elements of the ad.

 Humor and striking the emotional cord  : The  ad is undoubtedly humorous which makes the customers wait curiously so that they can see what is it all about ? They will feel delighted to see in the end that its century ply so the doors and table were all intact. It even strikes the emotional cord as the ad shows the anger emotion of the wife who doesn't spare a husband who forgets their anniversary. It is 100% humorous and interestingly executed which makes audiences smile throughout as they keep guessing and finally crack the puzzle of what it is about. In a way it connects the customers who would love watching the ad.

Displaying the strength and durability : The campaign succeeds in displaying the core functions and benefits  of century ply – Strength and durability . The wife aka angry gorilla cannot enter in to the house using front door in spite of all the strength she uses to break down and so has to take an alternate route. Similarly even if all other things are getting damaged the wooden table, doors remain firm so it successfully shows that the century ply products are strong. However durability could have been shown little more creatively, like the ad could have ended like this.

Husband and wife seated on dining table after 10 years with some grey hair on their heads and husband hesitates and then asks “So how many years has it been” turning the wife again to a gorilla who bangs the table but table shows the same strength it showed 10 years back. In this way humor quotient would also have increased and we can say that century ply products are durable for ages.

Few  missed initiatives : Century ply claims that their products  are 100 per cent borer and termite-proof.  The focus should also have been on value-addition  and product innovation along with main features, such as veneers, laminates and also Eco-friendly and non-carcinogenic products. Century ply could have stand apart and gained more brownies than green ply or age old kit ply by implementing the anti termite feature in the ad keeping the humor intact. This actually is told in voice over but gets unnoticed due to the growling gorilla. Also Century ply claims their decorative veneers are boiling water resistant hence even this element could have been show cased where the wife throws boiling water but the product stays put!

The content and the intent of the ad is great but the above implementation would have added icing on cake and made it an aspirational product!

It is Century Ply’s 26^th year and all their products have satisfied customers so far. Their ads and initiatives along with their association with some meaningful cinema like Aarakshan and also My name is khan where  Rizwan Khan’s spirit resembles Century ply and propagating noble causes like right to education they clearly showed they are different and creative and their contemporary life  style statements connect to modern living.    

Also they have connected with their users / fans  via facebook with an interesting contest where you can win an Iphone 5 by sharing the anger at "Share the Anger contest". 

I shared my anger so when will you let go yours;-) ? My tag line to win a cool I phone 5 - SAB SAHO SHARE KARO MAST RAHO!

Credits:

Client: Centuryply

Creative agency: Bates Kolkata

Executive creative director: Arjun Mukherjee, Souvik Misra

Group business director: Soumya Chowdhury

Group brand manager: Sreeparna Gupta

Creative team: Arjun Mukherjee, Diptanshu Roy, Anurag Acharya, Kamalika Baral

Production house: Lemon Yellow Sun Films

Director: Vinod P Vijay

Animation: No Label, Poland

Media agency: Mindshare 

Keh ke lena.....Y I HATE JOURNALISM!

Teri keh ke loonga- Not sure how many of U watched the latest Wasseypur saaga. If U watched the bell would have rang while reading the title it self !! "KEH KE LOONGA" has become a cult long ago and no need to mention every one loved the song and started humming on a daily basis when ever they are frustrated , to take revenge on boss , to show their hatred on some one , to show angst through their write ups etc but the reason I named this article as keh ke lena is not to discuss wasseypur again (have done a lot of it)! KEH KE LOONGA is my favorite song too and I want to dedicate this to most of the journalists in our country who feel very proud about this task “Keh ke lena”. As you are here you may want to read this post written some 2years back about"Indian media – misusing freedom?" .The situation didn’t get better in these 2years. It actually worsened . With the intervention of too much of online media in our lives be it facebook , blogs , twitter and tumblr etc everyone wants to voice their thoughts , share some news or report an incident.  

Funniest are FB posts where a grave accident in US which killed 5 Indian students is discussed as importantly as Aradhya bachan’s revelation. Everyone wants to talk one thing or the other. It’s definitely good to discuss, share opinions and voice your thoughts or fight for your rights if needed but here am going to discuss what happens when it becomes “excess” and when every other crap occurrence is entitled as “NEWS” or “REPORT”!

You all must be aware of the Guawahati molestation case. Am sure many of us would have forgotten  those criminals’ names and none would be knowing the actual law and punishment in India in such case but almost all would know how to search on you tube. WAIT! Why to search?!If you open You tube it might show up in most viewed or featured videos as well! 8 out of  10 Indians who have access to Internet would definitely have watched this video sighing and pitying : “Ah Poor girl! This shouldn’t have happened?”

MEDIA covered it very well. The way those animals held her, tore her clothes, her replies etc. When someone shared it I couldn’t go beyond 30 sec. It all seemed like a plot. Who is actual MEDIA? Who took the video? Who stopped the act is all in haze. I was disturbed for a week or so and then forgot about the news like many. I heard 4-5 people were arrested. Yep media say they have done a great job but one from the same media was also arrested for encouraging the criminals in their heinous act! I was glad at least few were arrested (GOD KNOWS IF AT ALL THEY ARE REALLY PUNISHED). Even after the arrests I don’t feel like thanking the MEDIA as I HATE THE MEDIA’s style of reporting, passing the information to people. Is it necessary to repeat and re-repeat the news and the clippings of the crime?  I never understood the TRPS but Media is ever ready to make people feel uncomfortable or sick!

When YSR (A.P.’s X CM- Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy) expired in that tragic helicopter accident the news which was AP’s sensation 2 years back a news channel which sighted the copter remnants displayed the news in BIG BOLD letters BREAKING NEWS. We were speechless , sorrowful but at the same time I was feeling funny as the reporter continuously shouted PLEASE NOTE THAT IT is our channel ** TV which reported this incident first. I was not even sure if he mentioned that the CM of A.P. died!! It was outrageous and hilarious at the same time. Such is the craving of news channels and journalists (most of them) to earn brownies! You all must be aware of Peepli Live and Rann Movies.

Media concentrated a lot on Aish’s weight than Saina winning Bronze medal. There is a eve teasing, a rape or murder or women bullied in NCR or some other committed suicide you can see media hovering around the crime scene like dementors (it is harry potter Lingo) with their Jet black Cameras and microphones! It’s very difficult for them to report without sucking the life out of you! Once I saw some mishaps in Ashram where people are actually drugged to make them feel “spiritual” and then the swamy does his cheap tactics and acts with disciples specially women. I don’t remember which swamy and when it happened but I remember that I felt like puking and switched off the TV like always as the program was covered for more than 1 hour. One thing I don’t understand about reporters is they report the happenings but what after that? Do all follow up to see if there is a progress due to their efforts? Do all cross check if justice has been granted?  That swamy still takes spiritual lessons and I keep seeing his hoardings and ads. 

 I guess most of the media have their  best interests in just showing what all they want to and then move on to another grave news or Ram charan’s  or Genelia’s wedding or a made up weather report . To me all three kind of news seem to be handled with same intensity and seriousness by many news channels.

The purpose of writing this article is some blog I recently read where I got rude responses from the author who claims he is a journalist! Am sure Barkha dutt or Karan Thapar or the man who is barred recently Aseem  Rastogi (for his cartoons [A wicked act but a sensible one which reflects Indian politicians and corruption]) or many other International journalists  would be more polite than him while replying! I myself have interacted with many magazine editors and international reporters. There is a journalist from Gulf who writes serious journals and addresses issues and reports them. He replies to me patiently me being just another reader! Every other naive or experienced journalist or reporter should learn first how to talk without losing their cool when a reader expresses concern or needs a clarification. You cant just escape by saying. Am a reporter so I report. Face it! Am not sure if they have this session on"  how to talk to your readers?" in their journalism classes!

Firstly the report (as he says that he is a reporter and he would report no matter what) he made on his website was about some fake religious website where a person (obviously you can imagine the sanity or ignorance levels of the person on the other side of the box) will chat with you and help you in getting converted to a particular religion! The name of the religion was written in CAPS in his title which itself is a bit provoking and places the reader if he is from the same religion in DISCOMFORT zone! The post is given a PS: Not to hurt anyone and NOM and not to be serious etc etc. Any post which has this is bound to hurt someone or the other!  COME ON WE ARE BLOGGING almost since valmiki shouted Maramaramara. The chat conversations were pasted where the person in hoodwink who wants to get  you converted asks all his doubts to the other one blaming “Your religion is no good right?? (I am not writing the exact snippets as I don’t feel like) I heard this and this about it ."

What will anyone expect the other person will reply?!  He will obviously say, “NOPE! We are good, holy . That’s all a hoax!”

What irritated me more were not the website authorities’ most expected replies but the way the person who is investigating the website asked the questions. Any sane person would know that website is a big joke and ignore it but he being a journalist wanted to investigate it, know its authenticity and report to people. Even if I think on a bigger picture am not sure if he is doing any good to mankind due to this mocking- report! To me it showed the hidden intentions to showcase the bad and there’s no sign of him asking anything about religion itself!  He first of all dug from excavations some site which nobody knew even existed and then highlighted it with the chat convo he had using some temporary ID and pasted all the replies!

Anybody who say they are neutral will definitely be from similar kind of journalism or a person who knows the journalist or someone who is not sensitive and doesn't bother enough or a person who thinks the effort is a heroic act. Even I felt irritable when I saw such fake website exists but god knows how many more such websites exist taken the infinite religions in to count. There are even people who are claiming after that post in some argument that “In so and so religion I never saw such site!” Did he/she go through ALL the websites of that religion? I don’t think it is humanly possible to do that and how exactly did that report help people?

My only concern is when there is already so much havoc in the world due to religious rivalry and so many other important issues is there something good achieved by notifying this website to people ??Ya Ya people got alert and are surprised and shocked but this could have been done in a better way too but as a matter of fact the reporter claims it was neither mockery nor foolery just a clean report! Leave good or bad, is this post even necessary in present day scenario! Well I don’t see any use due to this report.  The only result is few laughs and mocks from the fellas and friends and pats by colleagues as if it is a “BRAVO” act! To me it was an unnecessary provoking act. So was to many others.

Some diplomatic people say it was just unleashing the fact and being a reporter if the purpose is only to report whatever big or small the sector of people is getting offended then I HATE SUCH JOURNALISM! I hate the holier than thou journalists who think writing and then giving adamant replies and apologizing in public will resolve everything. There is nothing “heroic” about all this to me!

So friends I want to conclude this article by wishing and hoping abundant sanity exists in the world. If there is insanity then reporting the insanity in such a way that sane people’s brains get blocked is more insane and I guess whenever a person is writing or reporting something with regards to religion  and then gets rude on hearing peoples perspectives should be ready to taste sour grapes!

PS: I respect all religions and hence am not digging in to the mess they create or the fake-ness and fairness of any religion and harness my knowledge coz am least bothered about all such reports! I am only bothered about silly reports getting projected in a sillier useless way!

If Keh- Ke – lena is the motto of many journalists then I am glad that am not in to this profession which long long ago used to be a dreamy profession to me!

Heroine is like a heavy dose of HEROIN- Sluggish and Drowsy

Heroine Review

originally at http://planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=f092312075003

There’s very little to say about this movie which feels like a badly remade Page 3 / Fashion. If you have seen one movie you have seen them all! Madhur Bhandarkar is well known for making women centric movies specially those women who want to climb the ladder of success like in corporate or who want always to be in limelight and rule the glam-world like in page 3 and Fashion! All the 3 are memorable movies but the mistake Madhur did is tossing all these familiar elements again in to a movie like “Heroine” with skin show –check , one or two bold scenes – check , short tempered love lost lady – check and lot of glamour , make up , awesome costumes and expecting it to amuse the audience. We were ofcourse amused not by the stereotypic Madhur’s movie but by Kareena who is so rosy pink that she can turn all girls red due to jealousy !Kareena’s complexion is unmatchable and the confidence and pomp with which she carries Mahi Arora’s role is worth applause ! An impulsive Kareena suffering from Bipolar disorder – (the fact which very less people noticed / heard being told by one of the crooked faced journalists wearing those weird ornaments in the back drop )is highly emotional and reacts at anything and everything. She reminds us of none other than Kanganna Rannaut so to me its a total run-out and her PR Divya dutta again smokes, shows her skin (MOST UNWANTED SCENE of the movie) and wears similar ornaments! Needless to say Kareena is more glamorous and sexy! The story goes like this – Mahi Arora already one of the top heroines is at the zenith of success .

She Introduces herself with a drool worthy song “Mai heroine hu“ and attracts the  audience but fails to keep the same enthu intact among viewers as the movie flows. The story is predictable and the actors seem bored by their respective roles. Be it a Sanjay suri , Arjun rampal or Randeep Hooda all seemed dim and repeated kinda roles. Along with a gay role there is a sparkling Shahana Goswami in a short episode who helps Mahi with her acting in a prostitute movie and just has a lesbian “moment” with Mahi. Sorry for leaking this but trust me it’s not a spoiler worth not to be spoiled J

In the first half you will at least be engrossed in Kareena’s costumes , the LAKME eyeconic liner she used and her different shades of lipstick which make her look like a ravishing diva. She is absolutely charming and lives up to the No 1 heroine role which comes naturally to her she being one of the top heroines in bollywood. The sequence of scenes and the speed of the story is also OK in the first half but post interval where there was much scope to act where Kareena fails and the movie gets intolerable and Mahi weeps and weeps and weeps little more , ditches the loyal Angad (Randeep Hooda) as she wants to concentrate on career ,leaks the video tape with Aryan (Arjun Rampal)  to make her movie run somehow and succeeds but fails personally and emotionally and also fails to grip the audience’s attention L who get too bored by the plot. Her eyes were looking hurt and success-thirsty and at the same time sad at whatever she was doing .

She is a successful actress but highly insecure and emotional since the beginning of the movie. I hope film industry is not filled with many such insecure sick people who cannot control themselves and all in all I feel Madhur should come out of that Glam-world-is-a-sick-world to be zone and show something new and different.He says he has put all possible real happenings in bollywood in the movie (seems MMS Scandal happened to Kareena) but burdening all the happenings on a single Mahi Arora was the biggest mistake. She falls in to the valley of failure and depression and then comes back to surface and starts planning to be successful in her own insecure zone and audience will start yawning counting the number of times she falls and resurfaces! At one point when she wears the same black dress for 2days and keeps weeping and drinking I wanted to take out some gun and shoot her so that the movie finishes fast but unlike Kanganna she doesn’t die but moves on and moves out of bollywood, India and flies somewhere in Europe to live like a non-celeb and normal person.

“Phew”! We were very happy when the movie finally ended and from the moment I came out of theatre I am appreciating Fashion much more for being a better watch, with better music, undoubtedly better performance by Priyanka Chopra , Mugdha Godsey and every one ! Other than Kareena all roles seemed wasted to me and flow of scenes is illogical!

If  you are a hard core Kareena fan you can go to the movie. Her halkat jawani is enticing of course. You may laugh at me but I feel like watching Fashion now and plugged to Fashion ka Jalwa right now as I feel like enjoying the old wine in old bottle! One thing to be happy about is Aish getting pregnant and walking out of the movie. It would have been a third degree torture if there was no Kareena. “Celebrities are those who struggle to be invited first by the front doors and then fight to run out through the back stage” is true and Madhur portrayed it well in all the movies but Madhur sir please show in your next movie that bollywood is not filled with all psychotic, homosexual , moral less and short tempered blokes and damsels now that every scene of yours is getting UN-realistic due to melodrama and hysteria

My rating – 1.5 / 5

Generation Gap !! Tch tch :)

courtesy: Toon doo

Go savour the Barfi !

Movie: Barfi

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Ileana D’Cruz, Priyanka Chopra, Saurabh Shukla

Director: Anuraj Basu

Screenwriters: Anurag Basu, Sanjeev Datta

Producers: Ronnie Screwvala, Siddharth Roy Kapur

Director of photography: Ravi Varman

Costume designers: Aki Narula and Shefalina

Music: Pritam

Barfi – When I read the title I was wondering will it be so awesome like barfi that we can savour throughout the movie but I must say it’s much more relishing, relieving specially after watching and not watching but just hearing about bundle of crap Bollywood recently dished out like Ek tha tiger , Jism 2 , Raaz 3 etc etc . I was scared if mute Ranbir will disappoint me specially as I love the animated Ranbir immensely but GOSH am amazed to see him in a much more vivacious character giving his best and cutest performance. His expressions, eyes , pure soul , his don’t worry be barfi attitude and his sign language will definitely steal audiences hearts. Having said that the autistic Jhilmil uraf Priyanka steals the show soon after she enters. Initially I was little apprehensive as to how she would carry herself but she comes out with flying colours brightly  doing absolute justice to her name and role ! Illeana D’cruz who gained fame in tollywood is gorgeous and she didn’t over do her part. Strangely I liked the way she performed for the first time. May be here the credit goes to Anurag Basu. Like in many Anurag basus movies musicians are playing their instruments in the back drop. Remember Gangster , Life in a Metro :-) ? As soon as I saw the music band I sensed its Pritam even without checking out the cast and crew. Music is soulful and the title song “Matwaala Barfi “ sung by Mohit chauhan and Swanand kirkire is magical and the narration of Barfis birth and how he is named Murphy is interesting. I even loved the song in the background during initial  titles “Picture shuroo hogai, Bachon aur mobile ko off karo” ! The movie starts with smiles and ends in smiles. Its like a subtle art of living lesson to all without long speeches and boring preaches. Main kya karoon by Nikhil Paul George is one more unforgettable song and voice. Rest all songs also blend well in the movie. The movie to me is picturesque and poetic the stanzas of which seamlessly flow.    

          

Three cheers to Cinematographer Ravi Varman who captured the scenic Bengal beautifully and I just made a mental note while watching the movie that I have to visit Darjeeling. The film oscillates between 1972, 78 and 2012 and Darjeeling and Kolkata in a slightly haphazard way but you don’t mind it as you are just smiling throughout due to our Chaplin cum Mr. Bean. Barfi’s tactics not only make jhilmil happy but also the audiences!  In few scenes you may even remember the Note book movie, the scene where Illeana’s mother tries to teach her why the engaged shruthi (Illeana) has to marry her Mr. Right and not Barfi and also in the ending scene where Jhilmil is curled up on Ranbirs death bed. In few frames I even remembered Sadma (Kamal Hasan and sridevis award winning movie where Kamal Hasan treats sridevi as kid and tries to civilise her). Ranbir looked similar to him in many frames , even in the frame with grey hair, nevertheless a loud applause to his performance which is solely natural and not a cheap imitation of any veteran !A pat on the back for priyanka chopra who made me think of the real autistic people and the challenges they have in life!

The film opens with a old Shruthi in the present day mentioning and introducing Barfi and the simple things he taught her in life followed by Barfi’s entry in Darjeeling who is fun-frolic guy  always bubbling with energy. He says “Biggest risk in life is not taking any risk.” Shruthi just when getting close to him ditches him and obeys the parents but destiny gives her chances to meet Barfi again and again. She cannot get over him even after 6 years of her marriage  but then story takes a different turn and Jhilmil and Barfi are together leaving shruthi a bit jealous at Jhilmil’s destiny and her own fate! Ranbir is extremely sweet and pull-a-cheek level cute but I must admit I was staring at Shruthi who is shown so beautifully! The scene where Barfi hugs and sleeps with his father who has a kidney failure and needs money for treatment is tearful. His eyes show so many deep emotions – love, helplessness, hope etc. The way he wants to earn money for his father’s treatment by kidnapping jhilmil and robbing bank and all other consequences are comical !

The way he tests friendship by cutting the lamp post and making his friends stand with him when it falls just at their feet is hilarious and our Jhilmil passes  the test as she is confident that holding the hem of Barfis shirt will protect her ! I personally loved this scene. To me it is the best scene in the movie. All the simple happenings and feelings in anyone’s life are portrayed amazingly ! Barfis philosophy is simple to enjoy the smaller things in life rather than running behind luxuries! Barfis world is shown dreamy like a fairy land with toy trains ,wintry forests complete with fireflies that you can catch in shimmering soap bubbles. Love doesn’t need perfection but love at times is a impulse of  heart without any pre plans and so  beautiful that you can lead a perfect life even with 100 imperfections. This is the beautiful message in the movie when Barfi and Priyanka start living together and Shruthi is left behind with her fantasy  to lead such a life and die together in each other’s  arms!

In one sentence You travel the Barfi’s journey on a roller coaster with all the smiles, awe and turm oil. If only every one who is physically strong could live in such a dream land of BARFI! Lastly if Rajkapoor was alive he would be proud of his grandson for being a showman like him!

My rating : 4.5/5